Parents’ Perceptions of H1N1 Risk Predict Child Vaccinations

1. Parents’ Perceptions of H1N1 Risk Predict Child Vaccinations Susan T. Heinze, Ayala Y. Gorodzinsky, Jessica G. Drew, & W. Hobart DaviesUniversity of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Table 1. Correlations between parent attitudes and perceived importance of recommendations Introduction: Results (continued): • Parents were more likely to intend to have their child vaccinated against H1N1 if they obtained the annual flu vaccine for their child last year (χ²=263.36, p<.001) and if they intended to get the annual vaccine this year (χ²=310.97, p<.001). • Intention to vaccinate their child against H1N1 was significantly correlated with parental worrying about their child getting H1N1, the perceived risk of their child getting sick , and parents’ belief that the vaccine would be effective (r=-.279 , -.255, and -.486, p<.001). • The H1N1 influenza public health emergency resulted in roughly 22 million confirmed cases, and 3,900 deaths from April 2009 through October 2009. • The CDC recommended obtaining the vaccination against the virus, especially for children. • Some key factors found to influence vaccination of children against influenza are media coverage, physician recommendation, the internet, and perceived risk. Hypotheses: • Parents who have vaccinated their child in the past against the seasonal flu will be more likely to vaccinate their child against H1N1. • Parents who perceive their child to be at higher risk and are more worried about the virus will be more likely to comply with government advisories, specifically vaccination. Figure 1. Common sources of information regarding the H1N1 influenza * = p < .05, ** = p < .01 Conclusion: • Despite the media attention surrounding the new virus, the rates of actual vaccinations of children are still moderate. • Parents who perceived the H1N1 virus to be a greater risk to their children as well as those that have previously received the seasonal influenza vaccine for their children are more likely to get their child vaccinated against H1N1. • Furthermore, parents with higher perceptions of risk and worry about the virus were more inclined to report that the government's recommendations were important in protecting their children from becoming infected. • The results of this study can be a useful tool in helping understand the reasons parents follow certain recommendations as well as the ways in which they obtain information regarding such pandemics. • These results can facilitate effective dissemination about the risks and recommendations for this and other urgent public health concerns. Methods: • Community parents (N = 263) anonymously participated in an online survey as part of a larger study. • Parents were mostly female (62%), and Caucasian (84%). • M age = 36.28, SD = 7.82 • Parents responded to the survey based on their child (48.7% female) between the ages of 6 to 12. • M age = 8.74, SD = 2.14 Results (continued): • Parents who reported that they intended to have their child vaccinated were more likely to think that all five of the CDC recommendations related to H1N1 were important ( r values range = .178 to .535, all p < .01). • Parent attitudes about H1N1 were also significantly related to their perceived importance of the recommendations (see Table 1). Results: • Over half of the parents (n=139, 58.4%) reported that they were not planning on getting the H1N1 vaccine for their child. • Fewer parents (n=99, 41.6%) reported that they intended to get the H1N1 vaccine for their child.